AMC earns national distinction for community service

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) honored Anna Maria College this past weekend as a leader among institutions of higher education for their support of volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement.

Anna Maria College was admitted to the 2010 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for engaging its students, faculty and staff in meaningful service that achieves measurable results in the community.

The Corporation for National and Community Service, which has administered the Honor Roll since 2006, admitted a total of 641 colleges and universities for their impact on issues from literacy and neighborhood revitalization to supporting at-risk youth.

“Congratulations to Anna Maria College and its students for their dedication to service and commitment to improving their local communities,” said Patrick A. Corvington, Chief Executive Officer of CNCS. “We salute all the Honor Roll awardees for embracing their civic mission and providing opportunities for their students to tackle tough national challenges through service.”

As part of this mission, students, staff, faculty and administrators at Anna Maria are expected to, and do participate in numerous social service programs and activities locally, regionally and nationally.

Service programs identified by the Corporation for National and Community Service included the college’s work on the 2009 United Way Day of Caring.

“One of the hallmarks of Anna Maria College is its commitment to the traditions of Catholic Social Teaching and the mission of the Sisters of Saint Anne,” said Jack P. Calareso, Ph.D., President of AMC. “Being named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll is a testament to the extraordinary efforts on behalf of our entire campus community to provide for the Common Good.”

A total of 851 institutions applied for the 2010 Honor Roll, a nine percent increase over last year, a sign of the growing interest by colleges and universities in highlighting their efforts to engage students in making a difference in the community.